Topics in Urban Studies: Girl on Fire: How Ordinary People Become Extraordinary Leaders

In a world that feels defined by crisis, it’s never been more urgent, or even more daunting, to lead. Laura Kavanagh, the FDNY’s first woman and youngest Commissioner, led 17,000 people through unthinkable emergencies and systemic change. Her path from a shy small-town kid to leading one of the world’s most complex public institutions in the largest city in the country shows that leadership isn’t innate, it’s built. In this class, she shares what it really takes to lead when the heat is on, and how to keep your humanity, and with it your courage and clarity. Through practical frameworks, case studies and conversations, students will leave with a clearer sense of their own leadership voice and the tools to be a leader no matter who they are and where they come from.